One cheat meal is not going to hurt you
Replies
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I think it all depends on the person, you know? I don't like have cheat days, I've tried them, where I scheduled them in. I have tried just having a quick meal, but for me right now, the only that works is restriction of the unhealthy foods. I am not the kind of person that can have just 1oz of chips, no i eat the whole bag, when we order pizza i can easily put away half of it. If I ever tell myself that it is ok, then I lose the control I need. I know some people who can't not have a cheat day. They eat what they like/love and still lose weight because they can do it moderation. i don't have that self control yet. I just can't tell myself that a little bit is ok and to go ahead because I mindlessly eat it all before realizing really how much I've had.
Do you substitute foods that you love and are unhealthy with the healthy version? This is another way to enjoy the foods you love without missing out....examples...
Pepsi> Diet Pepsi (or even the new Next)
Buffalo Wings> Grill some wings and add a little hot sauce
Egg Rolls > Veggie spring rolls0 -
i dont have a cheat day as such, i stick to my mfp cals and save up my cheat day for if im goin out and i know im gonna be eating a meal out, which is once in a blue moon but i know i then dont have to worry and panick about where im gonna eat or where im gonna eat
Thats kinda where I am at. I plan out my calories for the week. For a week I try to eat 4,200 cals under maintenance, so I eat low 5 days a week, mini cheat/cheat day on weekends.0 -
nope. because my food options taste much better.0 -
but my point is, what is keeping someone who TRULY has a problem with junk food from eating it in excess? absolutely nothing. simple self control isn't even enough to keep a binge eater from grabbing another cookie, or another twelve cookies. Or having four more slices of pizza after their first.The thing about planning cheat meals is that it can definitely get out of hand for some people, regardless of how well you "planned it". The problem with most "cheat" foods is that they are very unhealthy, full of processed, highly concentrated fats and sugars and things that should just not go into your body period. Those things are quite literally addictive for some people, especially those struggling with their weight (how do you think they became overweight in the first place? it definitely wasn't by having "one treat a week") With some people, certain foods lead to a strong, almost insatiable desire for MORE MORE MORE. And if it was that easy for them to just stop at one bite or one meal, they probably wouldn't be overweight now.
the only unhealthy food is one eaten in excess.
well, no. that's exactly the thing keeping them from eating more. no one is forcing them to eat X amount of anything. you make a decision. do I eat that or do I not eat that. not eating something you might like to have/have more of? that's pretty much the definition of self control.0 -
i dont have a cheat day as such, i stick to my mfp cals and save up my cheat day for if im goin out and i know im gonna be eating a meal out, which is once in a blue moon but i know i then dont have to worry and panick about where im gonna eat or where im gonna eat
sorry should say where im gonna eat or wat im gonna eat lol0 -
Having a scheduled cheat meal is not rewarding yourself with food. It's those people who constantly think well I just did a Zumba class and burned a supposed 600 calories now I'm going to McDonalds bc I have earned it! Yea ok. My cheat meals are not rewards; it is a way of controlling my food and enjoying a night with friends or whatever. Plus my body likes the break in calories. It allows some to reintroduce foods back into their regimens and learn moderation.
Agreed.0 -
My favorite meals are bad for me. Now, instead of eating them each weekly, I reserve them for special occasions and modify some of the recipes to make them healthier.
I agree 100% with modifying the recipes to make them healthier. For example, something as simple as using fat-free or lite ingredients, ground turkey instead of ground beef, or putting mustard instead of mayo on sandwiches, can cut almost half of the original calories.0 -
My favorite meals are bad for me. Now, instead of eating them each weekly, I reserve them for special occasions and modify some of the recipes to make them healthier.
I agree 100% with modifying the recipes to make them healthier. For example, something as simple as using fat-free or lite ingredients, ground turkey instead of ground beef, or putting mustard instead of mayo on sandwiches, can cut almost half of the original calories.
That' fine if you like the modified recipe. Some people only like the real thing.0 -
but my point is, what is keeping someone who TRULY has a problem with junk food from eating it in excess? absolutely nothing. simple self control isn't even enough to keep a binge eater from grabbing another cookie, or another twelve cookies. Or having four more slices of pizza after their first.The thing about planning cheat meals is that it can definitely get out of hand for some people, regardless of how well you "planned it". The problem with most "cheat" foods is that they are very unhealthy, full of processed, highly concentrated fats and sugars and things that should just not go into your body period. Those things are quite literally addictive for some people, especially those struggling with their weight (how do you think they became overweight in the first place? it definitely wasn't by having "one treat a week") With some people, certain foods lead to a strong, almost insatiable desire for MORE MORE MORE. And if it was that easy for them to just stop at one bite or one meal, they probably wouldn't be overweight now.
the only unhealthy food is one eaten in excess.
well, no. that's exactly the thing keeping them from eating more. no one is forcing them to eat X amount of anything. you make a decision. do I eat that or do I not eat that. not eating something you might like to have/have more of? that's pretty much the definition of self control.
Actually, recent studies on willpower say that it is limited. A person who has trouble controlling his or her overreating is probably going to have a lot of trouble resisting poor choices just using willpower. I suggest adding structure. Organize your life so you will have to make fewer decisions about poor eating. Don't bring it home. Don't have a cheat day because in your case you know you'll abuse it.
In short, know yourself.0 -
I don't have a 'cheat day' but I work my calories on a weekly basis and I save a little each day so at the end of the week on a Sunday I have more calories to spend. That way I can have a cooked breakfast or treat myself to something that I wouldn't usually have. Likewise if I'm going out for a meal, I plan my week around it. As long as I'm within my weekly calories allowance it's fine. I also think it's better for the body not to expect the exact same amount of calorie intake each day. Good luck to all of you on your journeys!
X0 -
I think if you don't have self control on food, you need to learn how to adjust to it. I couldn't imagine how hard it must be to never eat "bad" foods ever again. I was at a point where I had no self control, but I learned to adjust. It took a long time, but I am so happy I did it.0
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I cant do moderation. I find calorie counting is the best method for me. I also can't do a cheat meal either because I end up feeling crushingly guilty about eating that its not worth feeling that crappy about.
I think that exercising moderation -- when moderation is what's called for -- is the HARDEST.
Complete deprivation or complete indulgence are no-brainers. Moderation requires you to think, make choices, sometimes make mistakes.0 -
I think if you don't have self control on food, you need to learn how to adjust to it. I couldn't imagine how hard it must be to never eat "bad" foods ever again. I was at a point where I had no self control, but I learned to adjust. It took a long time, but I am so happy I did it.
I didn't say "never." We all eat treat food from time to time. But some people do not do well with a system that sanctions the eating on a regular basis of food not on their normal plan. It would be a recipe for disaster, to coin a phrase.
Not doing a cheat day would be the proper exercise of self-control or willpower for people like that. If you have a tendency to overeat or binge, thus undermining your efforts, you don't schedule opportunities.0 -
I cant do moderation. I find calorie counting is the best method for me. I also can't do a cheat meal either because I end up feeling crushingly guilty about eating that its not worth feeling that crappy about.
I think that exercising moderation -- when moderation is what's called for -- is the HARDEST.
Complete deprivation or complete indulgence are no-brainers. Moderation requires you to think, make choices, sometimes make mistakes.
Losing weight is tough. Moderation is great when you get good at doing it. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you know you made the mistake.0 -
I agree with this completely.I think if you don't have self control on food, you need to learn how to adjust to it. I couldn't imagine how hard it must be to never eat "bad" foods ever again. I was at a point where I had no self control, but I learned to adjust. It took a long time, but I am so happy I did it.
I didn't say "never." We all eat treat food from time to time. But some people do not do well with a system that sanctions the eating on a regular basis of food not on their normal plan. It would be a recipe for disaster, to coin a phrase.
Not doing a cheat day would be the proper exercise of self-control or willpower for people like that. If you have a tendency to overeat or binge, thus undermining your efforts, you don't schedule opportunities.0 -
I cant do moderation. I find calorie counting is the best method for me. I also can't do a cheat meal either because I end up feeling crushingly guilty about eating that its not worth feeling that crappy about.
I think that exercising moderation -- when moderation is what's called for -- is the HARDEST.
Complete deprivation or complete indulgence are no-brainers. Moderation requires you to think, make choices, sometimes make mistakes.
Losing weight is tough. Moderation is great when you get good at doing it. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you know you made the mistake.
I agree. Was just underscoring that moderation is just as hard, if not harder, than the extremes. In addition to the fatigue of making decisions, moderation is boring and sensible and there's no distracting drama. Just plod plod plod day in day out.
Still, that's usually the healthiest way.0 -
but that's basically the essence of weight loss in general - making the right decisions of what to eat, or to eat certain amounts of certain foods. the fact of the matter is, overweight people become so by NOT making the correct decisions, and eating too much of certain things (usually high fat, high sugar, etc). Once a person decides to lose weight, the self control doesn't pop up out of nowhere - it still is a battle every day to choose the right foods. But even MORE difficult (for many people, clearly not you though) is choosing a wrong food which one used to eat in abundance before they decided to change their lifestyles & lose weight, and then attempting to stop at just a little. It's much easier for them to avoid the food altogether because once they get that taste, there's the powerful urge for more that would NEVER have been there (or at least not to that extreme) if they had just not touched it in the first place. For people who struggle with this type of behavior, it is much easier to just not eat it than to eat it and try not to have more. The temporary pleasure of letting themselves have that "cheat food" isn't worth the massive amounts of willpower it would take for them to not eat more of that food. Again, this is people who struggle with trigger foods and binge eating and such. Not for your average Joe who can eat one cookie and not want another.
but my point is, what is keeping someone who TRULY has a problem with junk food from eating it in excess? absolutely nothing. simple self control isn't even enough to keep a binge eater from grabbing another cookie, or another twelve cookies. Or having four more slices of pizza after their first.The thing about planning cheat meals is that it can definitely get out of hand for some people, regardless of how well you "planned it". The problem with most "cheat" foods is that they are very unhealthy, full of processed, highly concentrated fats and sugars and things that should just not go into your body period. Those things are quite literally addictive for some people, especially those struggling with their weight (how do you think they became overweight in the first place? it definitely wasn't by having "one treat a week") With some people, certain foods lead to a strong, almost insatiable desire for MORE MORE MORE. And if it was that easy for them to just stop at one bite or one meal, they probably wouldn't be overweight now.
the only unhealthy food is one eaten in excess.
well, no. that's exactly the thing keeping them from eating more. no one is forcing them to eat X amount of anything. you make a decision. do I eat that or do I not eat that. not eating something you might like to have/have more of? that's pretty much the definition of self control.0 -
but that's basically the essence of weight loss in general - making the right decisions of what to eat, or to eat certain amounts of certain foods. the fact of the matter is, overweight people become so by NOT making the correct decisions, and eating too much of certain things (usually high fat, high sugar, etc). Once a person decides to lose weight, the self control doesn't pop up out of nowhere - it still is a battle every day to choose the right foods. But even MORE difficult (for many people, clearly not you though) is choosing a wrong food which one used to eat in abundance before they decided to change their lifestyles & lose weight, and then attempting to stop at just a little. It's much easier for them to avoid the food altogether because once they get that taste, there's the powerful urge for more that would NEVER have been there (or at least not to that extreme) if they had just not touched it in the first place. For people who struggle with this type of behavior, it is much easier to just not eat it than to eat it and try not to have more. The temporary pleasure of letting themselves have that "cheat food" isn't worth the massive amounts of willpower it would take for them to not eat more of that food. Again, this is people who struggle with trigger foods and binge eating and such. Not for your average Joe who can eat one cookie and not want another.
but my point is, what is keeping someone who TRULY has a problem with junk food from eating it in excess? absolutely nothing. simple self control isn't even enough to keep a binge eater from grabbing another cookie, or another twelve cookies. Or having four more slices of pizza after their first.The thing about planning cheat meals is that it can definitely get out of hand for some people, regardless of how well you "planned it". The problem with most "cheat" foods is that they are very unhealthy, full of processed, highly concentrated fats and sugars and things that should just not go into your body period. Those things are quite literally addictive for some people, especially those struggling with their weight (how do you think they became overweight in the first place? it definitely wasn't by having "one treat a week") With some people, certain foods lead to a strong, almost insatiable desire for MORE MORE MORE. And if it was that easy for them to just stop at one bite or one meal, they probably wouldn't be overweight now.
the only unhealthy food is one eaten in excess.
well, no. that's exactly the thing keeping them from eating more. no one is forcing them to eat X amount of anything. you make a decision. do I eat that or do I not eat that. not eating something you might like to have/have more of? that's pretty much the definition of self control.
From what I've seen and also been through...deprivation causes MUCH more damage in the long run than a simple "cheat" meal.
Moderation is much safer than deprivation when it comes to those that struggle with their weight.0 -
Deprivation from food seems so much worse than moderation, but whatever helps you hit your goals and KEEP your goals.0
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I don't do cheat meals/days, I eat in moderation and within my calories!! :happy:0
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I have one cheat day a week, but even on my cheat days I'm usually only 3-400 calories over my daily goal, which to me doesn't seem like its that bad. The last few weeks my cheat days have all been at baseball games. I just can't turn down the hotdogs and beer when I'm at a ball game!0
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every day is a cheat day when you allow yourself to eat what you like, and learn how to weed out what you don't need in life period. there's nothing I'm eating now to lose weight that I won't eat at my goal weight nor is there anything I've eliminated that I'm waiting around to add back to my diet.0
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i decided to "cheat" today . couldn't get away from tracking though (damn habit now)
i enjoyed 4 peices of pizza (medium cut into 8) and cheesy breadsticks YUM
and ya know i am only over by 500 calories (still under 500 from my normal *b4 MFP* days)
the pizza and sticks were really good and now im ready to go back to normal 2,000 calories tomorrow and i plan to make sure to drink plenty of water :drinker:
ETA: normally i do eat everything in moderation but pizza is 1 thing i have trouble limiting so i allowed myself to eat what i wanted and it wasn't 4 at once , it was over the course of the evening0 -
Pizza is just too f'n good to give up lol0
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I like to have one cheater a week, but I limit it to one meal + dessert. I think a whole day would be insane!0
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Pizza is just too f'n good to give up lol
that it is .. hahah
i bought this pizza from the deli at walmart and it said 1 /5th pizza .. im sorry but who cuts pizza into 5 ?? i worked at 3 pizza places when i was younger and we cut them into 8 ..
so i did the math
360 * 5 = 1800
1800 / 8 = 225 each peice ( since i ended up eating 4 total , i had 900 calories worth of pizza)
i wasn't going to track but i couldn't resist :laugh:
the way i see it, even when im 150 (or w/e) i am still going to be tracking calories and still enjoying pizza , burriots, chicken nuggets etc ..so i might as well enjoy it now as well :bigsmile:0 -
Has anyone heard of or used the raspberry ketone that dr. oz talks about on his show? I was just curious if anyone has had any luck with adding it as a supplement to their diet? Thanks0
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this dpesnt wprk for me at all. I have hit such a wall, and I am sooooo bummed out
over the last 3 months I have been doing the Insanity DVD's and even incorporated P90X along with crossfit training for the last 2 weeks. I have only list 8 punds. WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!! I try to drink at least 2.5- 3 liters of water a day ( I mainly stick to that M-F). i snack healthy (almonds, string cheese, fruit) I eat healthy (yogurt, oatmeal, salads, chicken). I havent visited a fast food place in the last 3 months! WHAT THE HECKAM I DOING WRONG??? so bummed . . . . . 0 -
Pizza is just too f'n good to give up lol
I eat pizza.. I try not to eat too much of it and if necessary, I make up for it later on in the week. It's not something I can afford to eat regularly, but I like it.0 -
this dpesnt wprk for me at all. I have hit such a wall, and I am sooooo bummed out over the last 3 months I have been doing the Insanity DVD's and even incorporated P90X along with crossfit training for the last 2 weeks. I have only list 8 punds. WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!! I try to drink at least 2.5- 3 liters of water a day ( I mainly stick to that M-F). i snack healthy (almonds, string cheese, fruit) I eat healthy (yogurt, oatmeal, salads, chicken). I havent visited a fast food place in the last 3 months! WHAT THE HECKAM I DOING WRONG??? so bummed . . . . .
Are you giving your body enough fuel?0
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